EPOCHS IN IRISH HISTORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 13 November 1890, Page 36

EPOCHS IN IRISH HISTORY.

By R. N. Adams.

No IX.— THE DANES IN IRELAND.

A SUMMABY.

Before we examine the records of the Danish invasion we may profitably review some of the ground over whioh we have already gone with a view to refreshing our memory regarding the origin of the various tribes who succeeded in forcing a foothold on the island. In the distant and, it must acknowledged, very dim and legendary records of the early age of the country we gathered out the main facts, which seem to be admitted on all hands as probably correct. From those we learned that Ireland was colonised by (I) the Fomorians, (2) the Nemedians, (3) the Firbolgs, (4) the Celts, (5) the De Dannans, and (6) the Milesians. These are treated generally as six distinct and unrelated peoples, and are supposed to have had no national affinities. The historian has not, indeed, employed his skill in an endeavour to decide whether there is ground for believing that they were so truly antagonistic as has in the past been taken for granted. Much has been done for tbe component parts of other nations in this way by antiquarians, philologists, and other lovers of research, but not a great deal has so far been done in this very interesting field of discovery for Ireland. It is, however, suggested to us by what we have already seen that there is less diversity in the Irish nation than has been supposed. That, indeed, only two races of people constituted the population of Ireland from the first, and that tbe secret of her historic convulsions lies in the persistent refusal of combination and mu;ual confidence oh the part of both races.

By a reference to our first three numbers it will be seen that all the traditions of the tribes claim for each of them an Eastern or Asiatic origin, and we also saw that the Celtic and Milesian branches evidently belonged to the great Phoeuecian colonisers. This family consisted of the Fomobians, Celts, and ' Milesians. In language, habits, and character they were all similar, as well as in legendary or traditional story. The other family of tribes consisted of the ' Nemedians, Fibbolgs, and Tuatha de Dan Anns. In general characteristics these were of one class. They were all more or less conneoted with Greece, as well as with the Phoenecians, and were of a type quite distinct from their rival colonists. The latter were a military people who lived by the , sword, the former were an agricultural, commercial, and industrial class, who sought to live by their own labours in tilling the soil, mining for minerals, in manufacture, and in the interchange of commodities with other countries. When the whole of them had settled in Ireland, they naturally fell- into their special places.- When the Dananns were masters of the country, the Nemedians and Firbolgs coalesced with them ; but the Fomorians and the Celts remained distinct, and sought opportunities to assert their independence. When the Milesians became masters, however, the Celts and Fomorians at once cast in their lot with them, and became part of the ruling race, and the De Dananns were subjected to the condition of servitude. The Milesian aristocracy looked with contempt on the Danann serfs for many centuries, although they were indebted to them for their wealth and all articles of use and luxury, and were in return regarded with strong dislike by the downtrodden peasants. We shall now devote a few moments to the question,

WHO WEBE THE DANES?

When the Fomorians drove a large bo3y of the Nemedians out of Ireland, when the two first encountered each other, according to Haverty, " a portion of them passed after many wanderings into the northern parts of Europe, where they became the Tuatha de Dananns of a subsequent age," — a statement which is in agreement with general facts. The Nemedians became the Dananns, some of whom returned to Ireland and for a time held it as their own, while others remained in the less fertile lands of Denmark and the adjacent parts, and became known in a later age as Danes or Northmen, who in the early centuries of the Christian era marie themselves known over so wide a range of seaboard as the masters of the sea. Hence we discover that there was a close relationship existing between the Dananns of Ireland and the invading Dane°, whose exploits form at the sam 6 time a most painful and interesting chapter in Irish annals. Ireland had for two centuries or so been the home of this enterprising race, under whose mild control the country bad prospered in all the arts of peace. The warlike Milesians coming in from Spain had gained the ascendancy over a non-warlike people, and had reducer l them to a menial condition ; the result, being that the sons of the greatest families forsook their homes in Ireland and sought their fortunes with their fellow colonists in the North. There the rn.es grew powerful, their modes of life inured ?them to all the hardships of a laborious and roving life. But amid it all the memories of the past were not effaced. Generation after generation passed away, but. the tales of fertile Ireland were repeated by sire to son, and often fresh news as well as refugees came to tbe Northern home, so that time onlj increased the desire to regain the lost country from the hands of

a usurper race, Which resulted in the memorable Danish invasions of the eight and ninth centuries.

PIBATIOAL EXPEDITIONS.

Amongst the causes which particularly led to the incursions of the Danes was the frequent pirati".al expeditions of the Irish chiefs. They were by no means a peaceful, unoffendiDg people. Their petty kings or princes were not satisfied with the little and larger wars they constantly waged among themselves. They were above the servile work of agriculture and such honest ways of gaining a living; and as it often happened that their neighbours were so far reduced that it was not worth while invading their territories, they turned their ambition across the seas and made constant excursions, for the purpose of plunder, upon the coasts of England, Scotland, and places on the Continental shores of the English Channel. It will be remembered that it was by one of these parties that the great Patrick was kidnapped from his home. Many others had shared the same fate, and probably had effected their escape in a similar manner to his; and from these practices both revenge and plunder incited return reprisals from the countries. Every ship seen approaching the shore was regarded as a pirate, and preparations were made to encounter and defeat its occupants in case it should prove an enemy.

ALIEN ABMS ENLISTED

Another custom which led to the invasion of the Danes was the course frequently resorted to by petty Irish princes enlisting the aid of Danish chiefs in settlement of their "neighbours' quarrels." So far were the Milesian chiefs from realising the true principles of government that on the slightest pretext they resorted to .arms to determine the justice of their claims. And bo little was the spirit of Christianity understood by them, notwithstanding that the country was full of churches, cathedrals, bishops, priests, monks, and nuns, that they were no less reluctant to stir up strife and to shed blood than were the heathen of the deepest ignorance. And for this purpose they were not loathe to secure the help of the barbarians of the black North, who, when they had once seen the beauties o£ the land, resolved only more resolutely to regain it for their own families. In course of years many of the sons of notable Danish chiefs 6ad become inhabitants of the green isle. They were officers in the little armies of the little princes or petty kings, and were paving the way for what was to follow. They were making, friends with the Danann part of the people, and getting themselves admitted into the private interests of many families, and thus undermining the power of the Milesian rulers.

THE NATUBE OF THE INVASIONS,

The Milesian was devoted to military pursuits, and disdained all other kinds of life, except that offered by the church in its monasteries and clerical situations. ' There were, therefore, large tracts of beautiful country untilled. The Dane had frequently seen' these rich plains, valleys, and hillsides, which were in such lovely contrast to the wild, sterile lands oh which he had been reared, and he coveted them as a paradise in comparison. He therefore prepared to seek means to gain a hold of some part of it for himself. There waß room for millions more than were in the country, and being determined, to settle there, each chief, as he felt ready to attempt it, came down upon the coast with a fleet well manned, and sought a spot to land and lire upon. He was, of course, bent on his object, and resolved to gain it or die in the attempt. In almost every case their landing was disputed; and if secured it was only at the expense of much blood and many lives. The warfare' of the time was rough, cruel, and relentless, not only between the Danes and the Irish, but everywhere. It was common to the age, and Ireland witnessed some fearful ..examples of its barbarous character in these conflicts. Now on the one side, now on the other, for one party seemed to vie with the other in extremes of cruelty. There were no means of meeting the Danish attacks with large armies, or with the combined forces of several chiefs, during the early stages of the struggle, for the reprisals were sudden and generally of short duration ; sometimes the one would succeed, sometimes the other. But even had there been a chance of combination, Ireland's government was incapable of organisation because of the local jealousies and personal spites of the princes ; so that by degrees the Danes gained possession at various points with fluctuating success, until about the middle of the ninth century their King Turgesius effected the conquest of the whole island, and reigned as monarch for many years, until ensnared by trencheTy and put to death after the Milesian plan by a r'val.